Even so, he has ruled the Scouser out for this weekend and is bracing himself for a parting of the ways before the transfer window shuts.

Pardew said: “I’ve offered Joey an olive branch and told him I’m not going to say I’ll never involve him.

“His crime to me wasn’t that great and I’m big enough to look him in the eye and say I want the same back.

“If he’s going to stay, I need to hear that he’s going to stay.”

Barton has always claimed he doesn’t want to quit Newcastle. But with managing director Derek Llambias withdrawing a contract offer following the collapse of talks – then fining and transfer listing him – the player also has his long-term future to think of.

Pardew believes Barton is torn between staying put and securing his future elsewhere.

“That’s where he’s at right now,” he added. “But I’ve told him he won’t play for me and I won’t include him unless I think he is pulling for us.

“If he turns around to me and says that’s what he’s going to do, then he’ll do that. He is in the process of weighing up what he needs to do.

“I’ll probably talk to him before training but I’m not sure he’ll start on Saturday, whatever answer I get.